By IANS,
Ranchi : Candidates of the two major parties of Jharkhand’s ruling alliance – the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) – Wednesday filed their nomination papers separately for the Hatia by-poll in what is being seen as a complete breakdown in unity between them.
The nomination process for the Hatia by poll, which is scheduled for June 15 began Monday.
BJP and AJSU candidates Ramjilal Sarda and Naveen Jaiswal filed their nominations separately Wednesday.
In the 2009 assembly poll, Sarda had lost the by poll just for 24 votes. Jasiwal had stood third in the 2009 poll.
The second major ruling alliance partner Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) is likely to support the AJSU in the by poll. AJSU had supported the JMM candidate in the May 3 Rajya Sabha poll.
Congress, the main opposition, which had won the 2009 assembly polls, has fielded Sunil Sahay who is the younger brother of Union Tourism Minister and Congress Ranchi Lok Sabha MP, Subodh Kant Sahay.
The second main opposition party, Jharkhand Vikas Morcha – Prajatantrik (JVM-P) candidate Ajay Nath Sahdeo also filed his nomination papers Wednesday.
Congress and JVM-P were pre-poll alliance partners in the 2009 assembly poll. Now, both parties have parted ways in the state.
Gopal Nath Sahdeo of the Congress had won the poll in 2009. The seat fell vacant after he died in 2010 due to disease.